The bullpen was one man lighter upon hearing the news that Jason Grilli had been traded to Colorado (thank goodness), so the Tigers needed a good outing from Jeremy Bonderman.
Needless to say, Mr. Bonderman delivered.
The first inning was a good sized roadblock, as it usually is for Jeremy. He loaded the bases with no one out, and two of the runners came in to score. Playing behind the Yankees in the Bronx usually leads to bad things, but Bonderman never allowed them to get going again. After the patient lineup worked his pitchcount very high in the first four innings, they lost it for whatever reason. Bonderman threw less than 40 pitches in the following 3.2 innings. Since I'm ever the pessimist, I did find the fact that Jeremy only struck out one batter very alarming. As concerning as that is, to only walk two batters against the Yankee lineup is impressive nevertheless. Hopefully this start will be something that Bonderman can gain confidence from.
Andy Pettitte was very good until the fifth inning, when Detroit started to really make him work. Marcus Thames and Placido Polanco both had big home runs to snatch a lead that wouldn't be relinquished. Gary Sheffield went 2-4 with a run scored, and Curtis Granderson came in after Pettitte left the game and reached base twice.
Since the Tigers have had quality starts in their last two outings, there won't be quite as much pressure on Nate Robertson to have an amazing start. If he can manage to keep the Tigers in the game, the bullpen will be rested enough log some innings if needed (Francisco Cruceta? Yes please) and possibly guide the Tigers to a series sweep.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Quality Control
The setup to this series with the hobbled Bronx Bombers was, in all honesty, kind of scary. The Tigers went in with the three starting pitchers they would be sending to the hill having only *one* quality start between them. Mind you, the state of the Yankees pitching staff (sans the back end of the bullpen) isn't a whole lot better. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are experiencing their rookie growing pains, and Andy Pettitte hasn't been his usual ace/#2 self.
Hughes got into trouble early, with Magglio Ordonez driving in a couple on a double in the first inning. By the time he was pulled in the in the middle of the third inning, he had walked more than he'd struck out (three to two), and six runs had come in to score. There would be no runs after that, with the most effective reliever being 25 year old Ross Ohlendorf for 3.1 innings.
Kenny Rogers cruised through six innings on his way to a second quality start of the year. Other than a two-run home run slapped by Robinson Cano, the only rocky part of the start came in the third inning. He quickly got the first two outs, then proceeded to walk the bases full. He did manage to get the final out, but that inning accounted for three of his four walks on the day.
The bullpen was very up and down. Bobby Seay looked good, and Clay Rapada did his job in cleaning up a mess in a very crucial situation. The ugly takes the form of Denny Bautista and frequent offender Todd Jones. Bautista walked the first batter he faced, got two outs, then walked the next two men. With the bases loaded, he hit Derek Jeter to bring in a run and cut the lead to 6-3. In the ninth, Jones showed why he's garnered the contempt of many a Tiger fan. He walked Hideki Matsui, and allowed him to advance on a wild pitch to the next batter. Jason Giambi drove in the runner to cut the lead to 6-4. Todd retired the next three in order to seal the deal.
Yes, it was a save. But therein lies the problem with that stat. If that was a tie ballgame, the Tigers lose the game. Even if it was a one run lead, the game would've radically shifted.
Hughes got into trouble early, with Magglio Ordonez driving in a couple on a double in the first inning. By the time he was pulled in the in the middle of the third inning, he had walked more than he'd struck out (three to two), and six runs had come in to score. There would be no runs after that, with the most effective reliever being 25 year old Ross Ohlendorf for 3.1 innings.
Kenny Rogers cruised through six innings on his way to a second quality start of the year. Other than a two-run home run slapped by Robinson Cano, the only rocky part of the start came in the third inning. He quickly got the first two outs, then proceeded to walk the bases full. He did manage to get the final out, but that inning accounted for three of his four walks on the day.
The bullpen was very up and down. Bobby Seay looked good, and Clay Rapada did his job in cleaning up a mess in a very crucial situation. The ugly takes the form of Denny Bautista and frequent offender Todd Jones. Bautista walked the first batter he faced, got two outs, then walked the next two men. With the bases loaded, he hit Derek Jeter to bring in a run and cut the lead to 6-3. In the ninth, Jones showed why he's garnered the contempt of many a Tiger fan. He walked Hideki Matsui, and allowed him to advance on a wild pitch to the next batter. Jason Giambi drove in the runner to cut the lead to 6-4. Todd retired the next three in order to seal the deal.
Yes, it was a save. But therein lies the problem with that stat. If that was a tie ballgame, the Tigers lose the game. Even if it was a one run lead, the game would've radically shifted.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Offensive Obscenity
Remember yesterday when I said that the offensive output wasn't an aberration? I knew that there would be fireworks in Detroit with Kenny Rogers squaring off against Luis Mendoza. But I had no clue that it would be this bad (I promise).
Every Tiger in the starting lineup collected at least one hit, and the only player that didn't manage an RBI was Edgar Renteria. Carlos Guillen is really stretching out that hot start, as he reached base four times and notched five RBIs. Anyone who questioned the ridiculous contract that Miguel Cabrera received is probably pretty quiet by now. And just to prove himself a little more he flipped another ball into the right field seats.
The starting pitching was, for the lack of a better word, horrendous on both sides. Kenny was chased after only 3.1 innings, and Mendoza couldn't even manage two innings. The Texas bullpen made any bad showings by the Tigers earlier in the season look pedestrian in comparison. Nine walks, two hit by pitches, and nine runs.
On the Tigers bullpen front, they were pretty darn good today. Clay Rapada completely bailed Kenny Rogers out of a bases loaded situation, and Aquilino Lopez was brilliant throught three innings.
I'll go out on a limb and say that the fireworks in this series aren't done, and that tomorrows game is going to be very entertaining one way or another.
Every Tiger in the starting lineup collected at least one hit, and the only player that didn't manage an RBI was Edgar Renteria. Carlos Guillen is really stretching out that hot start, as he reached base four times and notched five RBIs. Anyone who questioned the ridiculous contract that Miguel Cabrera received is probably pretty quiet by now. And just to prove himself a little more he flipped another ball into the right field seats.
The starting pitching was, for the lack of a better word, horrendous on both sides. Kenny was chased after only 3.1 innings, and Mendoza couldn't even manage two innings. The Texas bullpen made any bad showings by the Tigers earlier in the season look pedestrian in comparison. Nine walks, two hit by pitches, and nine runs.
On the Tigers bullpen front, they were pretty darn good today. Clay Rapada completely bailed Kenny Rogers out of a bases loaded situation, and Aquilino Lopez was brilliant throught three innings.
I'll go out on a limb and say that the fireworks in this series aren't done, and that tomorrows game is going to be very entertaining one way or another.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Terrific Tuesday Indeed
Today the Tigers came one step closer to .500. The pitching and hitting were both in synch, and it was cruise control all day (with the exception of the 1st inning).
Justin Verlander really needed a good start for both himself and for the team. He managed a quality start, only allowing a Frank Catalanotto solo HR in the second. It was a nice start, but a negative can be found once more. He only walked two batters, but also only struck out three. Zach Miner was the only member of the bullpen to let a runner cross in three innings.
Vicente Padilla was tabbed to try to shut down the Tigers, but instead allowed eight baserunners and seven earned runs in three innings of work. Josh Rupe seemed to be up to the task, cruising very easily through three innings. In the fourth inning, however, he loaded the bases with no one out and was given the hook. Wes Littleton allowed all three to score, putting the game even further out of reach.
The offense had another bizarre game where the role players seemed to be doing most of the mashing. Ramon Santiago crushed his first home run in five years, while also driving in three. Edgar Renteria showed that it wasn't just Rogers Centre keeping him hot, with ANOTHER four hit game. The guys who are supposed to be beasts didn't do too shabby either as Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez both smashed solo shots.
With the next two starters for Texas being Luis Mendoza and Jason Jennings, don't expect this to be an aberration.
Justin Verlander really needed a good start for both himself and for the team. He managed a quality start, only allowing a Frank Catalanotto solo HR in the second. It was a nice start, but a negative can be found once more. He only walked two batters, but also only struck out three. Zach Miner was the only member of the bullpen to let a runner cross in three innings.
Vicente Padilla was tabbed to try to shut down the Tigers, but instead allowed eight baserunners and seven earned runs in three innings of work. Josh Rupe seemed to be up to the task, cruising very easily through three innings. In the fourth inning, however, he loaded the bases with no one out and was given the hook. Wes Littleton allowed all three to score, putting the game even further out of reach.
The offense had another bizarre game where the role players seemed to be doing most of the mashing. Ramon Santiago crushed his first home run in five years, while also driving in three. Edgar Renteria showed that it wasn't just Rogers Centre keeping him hot, with ANOTHER four hit game. The guys who are supposed to be beasts didn't do too shabby either as Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez both smashed solo shots.
With the next two starters for Texas being Luis Mendoza and Jason Jennings, don't expect this to be an aberration.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Granderson Trip Report
My girlfriend and I took time out of our busy schedules to see Curtis Granderson in rare low A ball action on Friday night.
His first at-bat was decent, as he saw a couple of pitches. He hit the ball almost straight into the ground and managed to leg out an infield single. Actually, he managed the only two hits the Whitecaps had up until the 7th inning. The second hit was a laser beam triple hit to right-center field. I don't think that 10,000 people could cheer any louder than they were at that moment. He got a nice standing ovation as he exited from his final at-bat.
In the field, he didn't seem too hampered by his legs. He didn't have to make any strenuous throws, so that'll be something saved for another day I suppose. The most nervous moment of the night, for me, came when he was making a running catch in left-center field. There was a good amount of momentum, and it carried him all the way into the wall. He stopped himself with both hands forward, but didn't seem to have any ill effects. It's A ball, Curtis! Jesus Christ.
We didn't get there early enough to get any decent, up close pictures of him. But we did get some pretty good action photos. Unfortunately the pictures will have to wait for a bit while my girlfriend's scanner gets off the fritz.
His first at-bat was decent, as he saw a couple of pitches. He hit the ball almost straight into the ground and managed to leg out an infield single. Actually, he managed the only two hits the Whitecaps had up until the 7th inning. The second hit was a laser beam triple hit to right-center field. I don't think that 10,000 people could cheer any louder than they were at that moment. He got a nice standing ovation as he exited from his final at-bat.
In the field, he didn't seem too hampered by his legs. He didn't have to make any strenuous throws, so that'll be something saved for another day I suppose. The most nervous moment of the night, for me, came when he was making a running catch in left-center field. There was a good amount of momentum, and it carried him all the way into the wall. He stopped himself with both hands forward, but didn't seem to have any ill effects. It's A ball, Curtis! Jesus Christ.
We didn't get there early enough to get any decent, up close pictures of him. But we did get some pretty good action photos. Unfortunately the pictures will have to wait for a bit while my girlfriend's scanner gets off the fritz.
Afternoon Delight
While most people were eating their lunch, the Tigers were feasting on Shaun Marcum.
Marcum almost doubled his walk total for the year with four free passes, and the Tigers made him pay to the tune of five runs in only five innings.
Pudge had a nice 4-5 day, Edgar Renteria hit his 3rd home run in a week, and Ryan Raburn came up big with a two RBI single in the 2nd.
Armando Galarraga made his second start of the year and looked much less consistent. He also walked four batters, and had bases loaded situations in back to back innings. He obviously has god on his side, as no runners came in to score in either situation. A control pitching soft tosser cannot afford to get himself into situations like that, and it really stirred visions of Chad Durbin from last year.
The bullpen was solid, but unspectular. Aquilino Lopez gave a solid 1.1 innings, Clay Rapada was used for only for a couple of matchups, and Denny Bautista got himself in and out of a jam. Todd Jones, of course, allowed the only run of the day on a Gregg Zaun home run in the 9th.
Marcum almost doubled his walk total for the year with four free passes, and the Tigers made him pay to the tune of five runs in only five innings.
Pudge had a nice 4-5 day, Edgar Renteria hit his 3rd home run in a week, and Ryan Raburn came up big with a two RBI single in the 2nd.
Armando Galarraga made his second start of the year and looked much less consistent. He also walked four batters, and had bases loaded situations in back to back innings. He obviously has god on his side, as no runners came in to score in either situation. A control pitching soft tosser cannot afford to get himself into situations like that, and it really stirred visions of Chad Durbin from last year.
The bullpen was solid, but unspectular. Aquilino Lopez gave a solid 1.1 innings, Clay Rapada was used for only for a couple of matchups, and Denny Bautista got himself in and out of a jam. Todd Jones, of course, allowed the only run of the day on a Gregg Zaun home run in the 9th.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Back to Back
After exploding yesterday for six runs in the 8th inning, the thing that was on everyone's mind was whether or not it would be a catalyst for the Tigers offense as a whole. Whether it was that, or if it's just Twins pitching (or more specifically non-Joe Nathan Twin relievers) is debatable. The one thing that can't be denied is that the Tigers bats looked damn good tonight.
Gary Sheffield hushed the talk of those saying he should be on the DL (that includes me), if only briefly, with a solo shot in the 1st inning. The four, five and six spots provided the rest of the offense with a home run apiece, and five RBIs to their credit. The last of those shots, a Miguel Cabrera 2-run bomb, was the deciding blow.
Nate Robertson ate up 6.1 innings, but had to leave with a strained lat. Hopefully it's nothing that will ail him for too long, because the Tigers simply cannot afford more pitching injuries. The bullpen was strong with the exception of Todd Jones. If not for a phenomenal defensive effort from Ryan Raburn (aren't you glad he got called up?), Jones would've given up a home run to Delmon Young. As it stood, Young still came around to score on a Craig Monroe single. Jones closed the door lightly from there to give the Tigers their first back to back wins this season.
Gary Sheffield hushed the talk of those saying he should be on the DL (that includes me), if only briefly, with a solo shot in the 1st inning. The four, five and six spots provided the rest of the offense with a home run apiece, and five RBIs to their credit. The last of those shots, a Miguel Cabrera 2-run bomb, was the deciding blow.
Nate Robertson ate up 6.1 innings, but had to leave with a strained lat. Hopefully it's nothing that will ail him for too long, because the Tigers simply cannot afford more pitching injuries. The bullpen was strong with the exception of Todd Jones. If not for a phenomenal defensive effort from Ryan Raburn (aren't you glad he got called up?), Jones would've given up a home run to Delmon Young. As it stood, Young still came around to score on a Craig Monroe single. Jones closed the door lightly from there to give the Tigers their first back to back wins this season.
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